Alinta's Port Augusta Solar Thermal Project Moves Forward with Feasibility Study

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Gas and electricity retailer Alinta Energy Limited (Sydney, Australia) said it will assess the construction of a stand-alone solar thermal power plant near its Port Augusta coal-fired power stations as part of a feasibility study. The solar plant would use concentrated solar thermal power technology, which involves a central receiver and field of mirrors to concentrate the sunlight for the receiver.

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Alinta Energy owns the 240-megawatt (MW) Playford B and 272-MW Northern power stations in Port Augusta, collectively known as Port Augusta Power Stations.

Alinta Energy closed the Playford B in 2012, and is partially operating Northern Power Station. The company has been conducting prefeasibility studies and investigations to replace the coal-fired power stations with the most feasible available technologies. Alinta assessed the risks of redeveloping the power plant into a hybrid solar and coal plant, but decided a stand-alone solar thermal plant would be more feasible and have a longer operating life.

The company is investigating the costs associated with the redevelopment and is aiming at a conclusion next year.

According to Alinta, in addition to achieving clean energy generation, the new solar thermal plant, with a storage capacity of up to 15 hours, could have a longer operating life than a comparable coal-fired plant. The project would create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and at least 200 jobs when the plant becomes operational.

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